Curriculum Overview

Curriculum Overview — Your Blended Family

8 Week Small Group study

Ingredient 1 Parts 1-2: – Apples & Oranges — The Couple Relationship

It is imperative to have a solid foundation when building any structure. Within a family structure, the couple relationship is the foundation. The stronger the couple relationship; the more grounded the whole family unit will be. In these two sessions, couples will discover several pieces of baggage often brought into new relationships that need “checking in to” prior to successfully blending the rest of their family.

Ingredient 2: Surviving the Blender – Step Parenting

Step parenting issues are the primary reason blended couples crumble. In this session, three important step parenting steps are explored to assist the blending process. Resources and tools are provided to help with the two biggest hurdles in step parenting, which most experts agree are: discipline and favoritism.

Ingredient 3: Peas in a Pod – Blended Family Birth Order

Attention to birth order traits in your new family unit is key to building successful relationships during the blending process. In this session, you will discover the top three hurdles step-siblings encounter: sharing, jealousy and stress, and how it relates to their birth order traits and tendencies.

Ingredient 4: Good Apple or Bad Apple? – Ex-spouse Co-parenting

It is said, “There is a bad apple in every bunch.” When it comes to co-parenting with your ex, sometimes this old saying rings true. In this session, you will receive Scripture-based tools needed to cope with your ex while facilitating the healthy development of your children.

Money-related issues are the number one reason first marriages are driven to divorce. Therefore, the subject of money in second marriages is very sensitive and oftentimes volatile. In this session you will hit the hard questions head-on:

Should we pool our money or keep it separate?

Who will be the financial director of our blended family?

Do I have an obligation to support my stepchildren?

What about inheritance issues and should I have a will for my blended family?

It is no secret that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is accompanied by stress. This stress is amplified due to strained relationships between ex-spouses and step-siblings. In this session, you will focus on good “ex-etiquette” for holidays and traditions within the blended family. Sound advice is offered for children and adults alike when approaching the holiday season. Couples are encouraged to begin their own traditions with their new blended families while respecting the traditions of the past.